TOWN chiefs have given the go-ahead to an £800,000 development project to rejuvenate an area of Leatherhead, without knowing how it will be paid for.

The Church Street Urban Design Project, which aims to open up the town centre and pull it into the 21st century, has been met with some criticism from groups of residents who would prefer the town to stay as it is.

However, the project, which is being spearheaded by the Leatherhead Area Partnership (LAP), was given the go ahead by district and county councillors at a Surrey County Council Local Committee meeting for Mole Valley last week.

The plan, which will cost an estimated £870,000, aims to clear a civic area in front of the town’s theatre with trees and a walkway to help re-join Church Street with the High Street.

LAP chairman Colin Langley said: “This isn’t just about looking at the space we have now but looking at what could be done in the future and we believe this plan will provide long-term value for money.”

The final plan, which has been agreed, was designed following a series of consultations with the public over the past year.

At the latest public exhibition held in July, the design process was whittled down to two masterplans, with the second winning the public vote by almost two to one.

However, councillors still had some reservations about the design such as a reduction in the number of parking spaces along the road from 16 to 11.

County County Cllr Hazel Watson also raised concerns over funding, she said: “It’s an awful lot of money for us to commit to. I propose we defer the proposal to allow further opinions to be collated.

“There has been concern over parking spaces and also residents are questioning whether the cost of the scheme represents value for money and a lower cost scheme could have benefits for the town.”

She was knocked back however, by other members of the committee, who said there had been more than enough consultation and it was time the plans gathered pace.

Surrey County Cllr John Smith said: “If we wait for a consensus it will never happen.”

Mole Valley District Cllr Sylvia Sharland added: “There has been consultations galore. I think it’s time now that we move forward rather than re-looking at things which have already been discussed.”